Rangers backed to sign Joe Aribo replacement from Premier League giants – Hutton
Alan Hutton has insisted Man City will want James McAtee to play football if he is loaned to Rangers.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Gers right-back said the 19-year-old could be a potential replacement for Joe Aribo at Ibrox.
According to The Scottish Sun (1 July), Rangers have launched another bid for the 19-year-old in an effort to secure a loan deal.
The Glasgow club face competition from Premier League and Championship teams in the race to secure the midfielder’s signature.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side were unsuccessful when they tried to sign McAtee in January.
Hutton suggested there could be a space for the Englishman in Rangers’ midfield.
“When you look at Rangers at the moment, the likes of [Joe] Aribo, there’s a lot of speculation around him, [Alfredo] Morelos as well so there could be gaps within the squad to fit him in.” he told Football Insider.
“I think McAtee is obviously a prospect for the future. He has broken into the Man City first team.
“The one thing Pep [Guardiola] and Man City will be saying is ‘if we loan you this boy he needs to play football’. There’s no point in him coming up here and not touching a football because he’ll want him to progress to the next stage of his development. So I think that will be a stipulation.
“So he is a good prospect, definitely one for the future but I think he’s got the ability to come in and stamp his own authority within the Rangers team.“
In other news, a pundit has suggested Rangers may lose Joe Aribo to Premier League club after release clause twist.